Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-03-16
The Message.

sembly to day Governor Lee sent IN his
message quite long document, which, ii
published in extenso, would fill about four
columns of The GAZETTE. The following is
SYNOPSIS Of the more important features CT
the message:
The Governor calls attention 10 the pres
ent condition of the debt, and to the many
recent decisions Of the Z. S. Supreme Court
in reference to the Law imposing tax upon
sample merchants
He asks that the bodj; receive, and, if it
think proper, adopt the work of the revision
of the Code. He also requests that proper
provision be- made for the comfortable
maintenance of the insane who are now
confined in jails because of insufficient ac-
commentators at the regular asylums. He
also expresses the hope that The General
Assembly will legislate on such other sub
/! iects as in its Judgment, the public interest
may require.
Every attempt,9 says the Governor, ITO
effect final settlement Of the debt
question by the Legislature has always
been encoupsssed with embarrassment"
He then reviews the debt question
at some length ana recalls come
of his utterancas in former message, 10
which be took the ground that the position
of the State now is far different from what
it was in years gone by, and in this connec-
ton he draws vivid contrast in relation TO
the financial status of the Commonwealth.
From statements carefully prepared by
the Auditor" says the message, 1t appears
that the annual revenues for some years to
come will not exceed >, 7000 900, and that ii
the outstanding obligations OF the State
should BIO funded into bonds under the Rid.
dleberger bill, except those held By institu-
ticns Of learning, the interest to be paid,
added to the necessary annual expenses,
would about absorb the income"
He holds that the State canno, carry,
| financially, any more thao Is expressed In
the Riddleberger settlement, and in sub.
Stimulating this declaration he calls attention
to the many expenses which the State nov
has to meet and that she was not called
upon to meet few years ago. In this con-
neclion he refers to the new unatic asylnms,
the increased criminal expenses resulting
from the abolition of The whipping post law,
the colored normal school and the reduction
OF taxation from fifty TO forty cents.
An estimate in detail Of he annual ex
penses Of the government is presented to
show that There arc two methods only by
which the State eau pay greater amount
of interest than the RiddIebergor settlement
calls for"
Ha next touches thecoapon question,
and gives full account OF The coupon war
in the courts, brought abont by taxpayers
Offering TO pay taxes in coupons. and an
nounces that the Executive has been power
less to execute the law onaaLed by the State
because no authority WAS vested in him to
remove the collectors who declined 10 carry
out the instructions Of the Legislature
The coupons past due aud unpaid on the
1st of January, 1855 if not put in the hands
of the people, will amount to S4935 .0l6.50
Up to the period Of The attitude taken by
certain treasurers, there had been marked
decrease in the amount Of coupons forced
into the treasury, being, for the year 1856,
an average OF $50 900, as against $173 900
for 1884. The sum Of past due coupons
forcsd into the treasury in al! suits against
the State, to be relieved by the Indemnity
Board, had been only $50, 800 whilst
IS 600 600 in coupons then past due and IN
paid had been stopped, and the cost Of
keeping this large amount out Of the treas
ury had been only S7,9U.4S or about one
fourth OF one per cent
eve should not, however, forget here ia Yir-
ginia that though the decision of the Supreme
Court which stripped Virginia of her sovereignty
guaranteed by the 11th amendment of the consti-
tuition, was made by majority OF one in court of
nine judges, and that member of that court d
not hestlte to say, with toe concurrence of three
Others including the chief justice that it the
first time since tho 1fth amendment was adopted,
in which State had been cOerced by judicial
proceedings at the instance of individuals in
general court, and in his opinion none of these
suits could be maintained for the reason they are
in gum and substance and effect suits against the
State Of Virgisia; yet it he'd all the binding
effect and force of decision unanimously con-
Cured in by full court, and by the constitution
it is the supreme law of the land, and if necessary
must be supported by the President with the
strong hand of Federal power.
After discussing this point little further he
says Let US change The position and let the
Commonwealth take the initiative. This can be
done By nstituting suit to recover the taxes and
giving the taxpayer a day in court to prove his
coupons to be genuine aud make good his tender
He should not object, for in making the tender
he assumes the responsibility OF the gcnuineness
OF the coupons and this affords him opportunity
OF proving it,.
He recommends the passage OF an act proviiing
that all taxes including tdIes on licenses now due
or which may become due hereafter to the Com.
monweaith, In payment OF which any paper in
strument purportiug to b, coupon detached f1om
bond Of this State, shall have bccn or may here
after be, rendered and not accepted as payment
and not otherwise paid, may be recovered in the
Circuit Court having jurisdiction over the county
corporation in which the said taxes shall have
been assessed; or if thu tender was made to the
Auditor OF Public Accounts in payment OF taxes
which he is authorized by Law to receive. the
said taxes mag be recovered in the Circuit Cont
of the city of Richmond the court to have inris-
dicton. without regard to the amouas of taxes
claimed and though the amount be les, ;h,n
twenty dollars; and ii the defendant fails in his
defence, and the taxes claimed arc found TO be
due the State, there shall be judgment for the
Commonwealth for the aggregate amount of the
taxes due to the State thereon from tn time they
became due until the date of judgment, with u-
terest on the said aggregate amount, from the
date o. the Judgment until the payment, and
costs. Every such judgment shall be docketei as
presented by law in other cases The Auditor of
Public Accounts alone should be authorizes to
receive payment of any such Judgment, and no
execution shall issue thereon until he directs it:
The passage of such law" says the Governor.
V it'll the attending machinery to put il in no.;on